Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Thelonious Dub, an instrumental ensemble founded by guitarist Joe Bartone, continue to expand their audience in 2009. Playing a unique mix of improvised jazz, dub reggae and jam band styles or as they like to joke "a complete misunderstanding of both jazz and reggae,” Joe is joined by a variety of sidemen his numerous gigs and in July features Sean Rainey on drums and Kyle O’Donnell on saxophone.

Since their founding in 2007 the band has played over 100 shows at a vast range of venues around Los Angeles. They have recently added a weekly residency in Hollywood to their schedule – Sunday nights they will perform at the Blue Palms Brewhouse. The Blue Palms is an American alehouse dedicated to providing the highest quality specialty draft beer, cask ales and unique bottled beers from around the world. They also feature a menu of gourmet pub food. The Blue Palms is conveniently located next to the Music Box at the Fonda in Hollywood. Each week in addition to Thelonious Dub, audience will be treated to guest ensembles at 10pm.

Most of Thelonious Dub’s live performance features classic tunes by Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and Charles Mingus, along with witty pop and rock covers (Coldplay’s “Clocks”, “Money” by Pink Floyd, among others) and originals.

Bartone notes, “my unorthodox style is a direct result of my limitations and the many ways I strove to compensate for those shortcomings. I am proof that art is freedom through creation and it is the process that gives my life meaning.”

Modeled after the "Modern Lounge" sound, T-Dub draws from groups and artists like Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation and Sly & Robbie. To pursue this sound, Thelonious Dub adds electric sitar and a wide array of guitar effects. Media outlets including the LA Weekly, Glendale News Press, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Star News, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, LAist.com and the influential jazz blog MetalJazz.com have given the band significant coverage.

as many of you know, I am training with AIDS Project LA to run the Maui Marathon in September. To meet my fundraising goal, I am hosting dance workshops on July 25, 2009 in Signal Hill. Five of the finest dance and music teachers from the LA area have agreed to share their talents and time at this event. All the info can be found at

as well as a link to my fundraising page. Please visit the site and feel free to forward this email to anyone you think may be interested in attending or supporting APLA. BTW, any donations made online can be spread out over 4 payments and all donations are totally tax deductible!

The winners of the BMI Foundation’s 12th Annual John Lennon Scholarships, a program that recognizes the best and brightest young songwriters between the ages of 15 and 24, were announced today by Samantha Cox, Director of the competition. Jacqueline Wisot, a musician and songwriter currently attending Belmont University, won first place and a $10,000 scholarship for her song "Firefly." The Pennsylvania native was honored during the BMI Pop Awards ceremony held May 19 in Los Angeles.

Two Catawba College students tied for second place: Maryland native Katie Bragg won for her song “Unbreakable,” and Texan Mason Jewett won for “Devil Sunday”; each received a $2,500 scholarship. There was also a tie for third place: Weber State University student Sean Bishop was awarded a $2,500 scholarship for the song “The Real Me,” and co-scribes Dusti Kemp and Jessica Drake were each awarded $1,250 scholarships for “Time to Miss You.”

Established by Yoko Ono in 1997 in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, the John Lennon Scholarships have been made possible through generous donations from Ono with matching funds from Gibson Musical Instruments. More than $225,000 has been awarded over the last 11 years to students from select colleges, universities and music schools, and from national submissions from the National Association of Music Education/MENC chapters.

The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985 to support the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation come primarily from songwriters, composers and publishers, BMI employees and members of the public with a special interest in music. Because both the Foundation staff and the distinguished members of the Advisory Panel serve without compensation, over 95% of all donations and income are used for charitable grants.

Today Paper + Plastick Records is pleased to announce that punk mainstays A WILHELM SCREAM have joined its growing and already impressive roster. The label will release a self-titled 12” EP early this Fall, which will be sold exclusively at www.paperandplastick.com.

"I’ve toured with A Wilhelm Scream,” admits P+P founder and Less Than Jake drummer Vinnie Fiorello. “I know the band’s work and touring ethic. I know them as friends and I know they are a great fucking band live. I'm more excited than I can put to words that I am doing this."

"When Vinnie approached us about putting something out with Paper + Plastick I remember being impressed by his energy,” guitarist/vocalist Trevor Reilly says. “Guy was going off about obscure punk bands we knew from the early 90's, a bit about his own history, being in a full-time touring band and after five minutes of talking to him we knew we had to team up for something. The ethos of his label matched the ethos of our band. We like his ideas, respect his practical business sense and admire his passion for bridging graphic arts and music and his desire to simply make cool ass shit to stoke out the fans. He'd never say it but I think the dude's trying to save punk rock as we know it. I really do."

A Wilhelm Scream produced and recorded the new EP at their Black & Blue studio in New Bedford, MA, along with their live sound engineer James Whitten. Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis, Minus The Bear, Shook Ones) will mix the five-song record, which the band says “is nearly 40 minutes of music and is full of surprises.”

After recording with punk vets Bill Stevenson (Rise Against, NOFX, Black Flag, Descendents) and Jason Livermore and releasing three albums in as many years for Nitro Records, the melodic punk band decided to try their hand at recording.

“We recorded and produced each others' sessions, and the process allowed us to reconnect creatively with each other” Reilly attests. “We worked really hard on it to reach our own standard so our fans will respond and come out to the shows and guarantee us a party every night.”

A Wilhelm Scream have toured with Less Than Jake, Rise Against, Strung Out and Lagwagon, to name a few, and in support of the new EP they plan to hit the road on a headlining tour across Europe, Canada and the U.S. Also in the works is a brand new full length, which the band is currently writing.

A Wilhelm Scream is Reilly, Nuno Pereira (vocals), Nick Angelini (drums), and Mike Supina (guitar), along with the recent addition of Brian Robinson (bass/vocals). The new EP is the first recording this incarnation of the band has produced.

THE BLACK CROWES announce the second and third leg of their 2009 ‘Stuck Inside Utopia” Tour. ‘Stuck Inside Utopia’ begins August 25, 2009 at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia and concludes in the US with a five night run of shows at the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco on December 6, 2009. On September 1, 2009, THE BLACK CROWES will release their new studio CD, Before the Frost... and celebrate with a live performance on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” A second album, titled …Until The Freeze, will be given away for free exclusively through a unique download code which is included in Before The Frost… as a “thank you” to their fans for two decades of continued support.

The Black Crowes set will feature over two hours of music culled from the forthcoming new release and the band’s deep catalogue. Widely known for varying their nightly set lists performing new material, album cuts, rarities and covers in addition to their hits, THE BLACK CROWES, consistently deliver a fresh and unpredictable live show.

Critical acclaim and popular success has seen THE BLACK CROWES sell over 20 million albums worldwide. They are time and again hailed as one of Rock and Roll’s best live acts. THE BLACK CROWES are: Chris Robinson (vocals), Rich Robinson (guitar, vocals), Steve Gorman (drums), Sven Pipien (bass), Adam MacDougall (keyboards) and Luther Dickinson (guitar).

Staffed by energetic professional experts in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), our clinical team will identify the important skills needed for each specific camper in the group. Each themed based week provides daily schedules filled with games, arts and crafts, fun, the sun and MORE that will appeal to campers of all interests.

Autism Partnership is the nation’s premier agency dedicated to providing intensive behavior intervention for children with autism and their families. Established in 1994 by world-renowned psychologists Ron Leaf and John McEachin, Autism Partnership offers a comprehensive program and a variety of proven services, including in-home, in-classroom and one-to-one, as well as lectures and workshops. All programs are handled by expert teachers and tailored to each individual child, family and caregiver, with the goal of helping that child achieve their best life. For more information, visit www.autismpartnership.

The Used are pleased to announce their first single, “Blood On My Hands” is on sale now at iTunes and www.TheUsed.net.

For one day only (June 30th) the band will stream the song in it’s entirety at www.theused.net.

The track, from their upcoming album “Artwork”, which guitarist Quinn Allman describes as the song that “sums up everything about The Used,” is confined chaos, brutally thrashing one moment and proffering a pop-driven, sing-along chorus the next. A very limited number of shirts featuring full tabs and lyrics of the song are also available for purchase with the single at www.TheUsed.net.

After a strong first album release entitled, "Endangered Species," Nickodemus is finally ready to unleash the second solo album, "SUN PEOPLE!" Inspired by the big fireball in the sky & some wonderful people, it features some uplifting dance music from all parts of the World including Guinea, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Romania, India, Turkey, UK & his hometown in Brooklyn, NYC!

Some of the original Endangered Species cast is on the album including Jay Rodriguez, Quantic, Hector "Tempo" Alomar & the Candela Allstars, Zeb, Nappy G & Real Live Show. New additions to the signature Nickodemus sound on "Sun People" include Guinean born singer Ismael Kouyate, Indian classical & pop singer Falu, Richard Shepherd of Radio Mundial, Brazilian bornsinger Liliana of the band Maracatu, the versatile voice of Nuriya, the younger members ofTaraf de Haidouks & The New York Gypsy Allstars.

From being a regular DJ in the early days of Giant Step, to running one of NYC's longest running parties called Turntables on the Hudson, Nickodemus has been a steady force on the music scene for over 12 Years. He has travelled the World as a DJ since he's 18 & has been dropping musical productions of his own since 1999 with his cult classics "Cleopatra in New York" & "Mariposa" in 2001. His last album featured "Mi Swing es Tropical" which was not only a Worldwide club anthem but was also featured in the itunes + ipod adverts in the Summer of 2007.He's weighed in heavy with remixes for Billy Holiday, Nina Simone, Thievery Corporation, Sultan Kahn, Omar Faruk Tekliebek, Balkan Beat Box, The Pimps of Joytime & many more... Like his live DJ sets, get readyto go on a musical journey through the World of funky- organic- urban dance music all seen through the eyes of a New York native who consistently makes music without borders for everyone to enjoy!

"SUN PEOPLE" will be released June 16th, 2009 & if you didn't get enough of the Nickodemus sound by then, stay tuned for the reflection album of Sun People remixes & original songs inspired by the Moon called "MOON PEOPLE" in October 2009."Sun People reflects a rich musicality, while infectious rhythms keep the party live. Nickodemus truly knows no borders on this global dance floor." - Jason Bentley, Music Director, KCRW

"Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truthfirmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.

Musicians from different cultures uniting together for the common purpose of peace throughmusic is a powerful statement. For the past four years Playing For Change has traveled the world with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of such inspiration. Throughout thejourney we created a family of over 100 musicians from all walks of life. We connect these musicianstogether with "Songs Around The World." The Playing For Change Band is the next chapter in our story. Now people everywhere can witness first hand the transformational power of music and lovethat comes from the Playing For Change Band."Afro Funke's own Rocky Dawuni appears on two tracks on the Playing for Change "Songs Around the World" album including a cover of Bob Marley's "War" featuring Bono!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgWFxFg7-GU/

Please Support AFRICA LIVE!Africa Live! is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve, restore, and reinvigorate the Ghanaian music scene, creating public and industry awareness for its rich history and value, and commercial opportunities for artists and the community. Ghanaian international music star, Rocky Dawuni recognized the need to safeguard Ghana’s incredible music legacy. Through Africa Live! Dawuni plans to promote music education and appreciation in schools, provide schools and artists with access to instruments, venues and professional production assistance, and foster musical collaboration between the U.S. and Ghana.

We will have an Africa Live! donation box available at Afro Funke' each week.

On Tuesday, June 30th, Hopeless recording artist THERE FOR TOMORROW will debut the video for the title track of their new album A LITTLE FASTER on MTV2. The exclusive premiere of the single "A Little Faster" will get a total of 24 spins in that 24 hour period - one spin per hour starting at 6am EST (the video will be available for all other video outlets beginning on July 1st). In addition, there will be a homepage feature on the band on mtv2.com.

The video was shot largely on location throughout Northern New Jersey, including at the historic art deco landmark, The Bendix Diner (which has been used in films such as Boys on the Side and Jersey Girls). "

Orlando-based band There For Tomorrow released their debut album A Little Faster on June 9, 2009 and are currently on the full Vans Warped Tour this Summer (tour dates can be found at warpedtour.com). Alternative Press says of the new album "Given this Florida pop-rock collective's catchy hooks, it's not a question of if There For Tomorrow will be kings of the scene, but when."

Previously, the band was tagged as one of Alternative Press' enviable "100 Bands to Watch for 2009", and had garnered a major distinction of winning mtvU's very prestigious "Breaking Woodie Award" for Best Emerging Artist. James Paul Wisner (Dashboard Confessional, UnderOATH, Paramore) and David Bendeth (Breaking Benjamin, All Time Low, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus) produced the album.

ENTER SHIKARI released COMMON DREADS on June 16 (digitally in the US via the band’s own imprint Ambush Reality in partnership with DGC/Interscope Records) as the follow-up to their gold-certified debut Take to the Skies, which landed at #4 on the U.K. charts..

The St. Albans, England-based quartet, known for an eclectic sound that audaciously melds hardcore punk with pulse-pumping drum’n’bass and dark, gut-churning dubstep, is launching a U.S. headlining tour in early July in support of COMMON DREADS. Produced by Andy Gray (U2, Tori Amos, Korn, Gary Numan), COMMON DREADS is a 15-song soundtrack for an entire generation on a mission to define the era in which it was born: one of recession, paranoia, state control and the fallout of decades of accelerated capitalism; and on the other side, an era of hope, creativity, humanity, hedonism, irreverence and fun.

The Devil Makes Three frontman Pete Bernhard unveils “Straight Line”Pete’s second solo album out on September 15th on Milan Records

With a hectic Devil Makes Three touring schedule and a new studio record to promote, one might wonder how Pete found the time to write solo material, assemble a band, and self-produce a record. Well, he has done it!Stepping out with a collage of musical influences, “Straight Line” is a fair bit different from his primary band but one key element remains the same- Pete Barnhards defining vocal style, unique phrasing and his distinctive point of view.Pete will be playing solo dates this summer and will be doing substantial touring around the release of the reord. Pete will also be touting with The Devil Makes Three on their dates in October and November.

On his second solo album, Straight Line (his first solo commercial release), Pete lays down a set of his more driving numbers. He focuses on songs that he felt needed drums and weren’t suited for the all-acoustic old-country/blues/punk outfit The Devil Makes Three. His solo set has a no-holds- barred feel about it and lyrical fearlessness that one only finds in the truly liberated – feeling no pressure of fitting into a mold. There’s folk, funky New Orleans soul, blues, rock and other genres craft fully melded into a seamless and natural combination that is, like The Devil Makes Three, extremely difficult to place into a single genre.

This may be the biggest similarity to Pete’s primary band – the music crosses many boundaries. You feel it, you relate to it, it’s like an old friend you’ve never met before. You have no idea what it is or what to call it.

Pete’s lyrics are thoughtful and inquisitive, often with painted with his well-known sarcasm and irony. He questions the status quo frequently, most notably on his song “Orphan”. Would you rather be an orphan or a slave? Some might go through their entire lives obliviously, never asking or answering a question like this but Pete has no interest in shirking life’s tougher dilemmas.

“I got to thinking how everyone has some idea about how you should be and what you should and shouldn’t say. Trying to pay attention to all that can be demanding. It’s about how people are never satisfied,” he explained.

“Pray For Rain” shines a spotlight on the mindless, sheep-like mentality of those who worship at the altar of consumerism. Straight Line is almost exclusively original compositions, with one cover, “Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold” from the great Townes Van Zandt. He reinvents the folk classic with wailing B3 organ and arrangements that bring to mind the best of The Band.

Pete hails from a small, liberal community in Vermont with a family rife with musicians. His father played guitar and wrote songs, his brother attended Berklee School of Music and plays guitar and an aunt who was a folk musician. Immersed in music, he was drawn to older, traditional blues from a young age, and also studied the style and aesthetics of music traditions like New Orleans R&B and country while simultaneously getting caught up in punk rock.

He headed west as a young man, first to Nashville, then on to Washington State, where he formed a band with a childhood friend and hit the road. When they broke down one day in Santa Cruz, California, they stayed with a fellow Vermonter who was in school – The Devil Makes Three was born.

The Devil Makes Three has developed an audience that encompasses just about every kind of music fan from punk rockers to Deadheads, bluegrass barflies and rockabilly fanatics to indie rock kids.

“We’re not really a genre-specified band,” he concludes, “I’ve actually had people come up to me and say, ‘I don’t listen to anything but hip-hop, but I love The Devil Makes Three. I think we’ve always tried to keep our songwriting honest and natural, I guess that ends up making it difficult to really define our band. That always keeps things really exciting.”

With a successful band and limited free time, one might wonder when Pete Bernhard has time to work on his solo music, but that question is easily answered, he told Santa Cruz’s Good Times.

“Before, we were all working jobs and playing in the band and that took all my time. Now we don’t work, so going solo keeps me busy. When The Devil Makes Three goes off the road for a month or two, it gives me time to try something new with my solo songs. I have no interest in stopping.”

He will continue to both question and reveal the truth through his songwriting, on his record and on the road.

Brazil’s Skank’s Tuesday, June 30 show at CLUB NOKIA has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict with the venue. The club apologizes for any inconvenience to fans and refunds are available at point of purchase.

Our Lady Peace, the Canadian rock band consisting of Raine Maida, Duncan Coutts, Jeremy Taggart and Steve Mazur will release their 7th studio album on July 21st, 2009. Burn Burn will be released in the U.S. through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. Burn Burn will be released as a standard 10 track CD as well as a Deluxe two disc CD/DVD fanpack with bonus tracks, music videos and exclusive studio footage. The band will be playing US shows this summer including July 21st at Irving Plaza in NYC and July 28th at the Troubadour in LA. A full list of dates is below.

The first single off Burn Burn is "All You Did Was Save My Life" and the video stars fellow Canadian Shenae Grimes of "90210" and "Degrassi: The Next Generation" fame.

"All You Did Was Save My Life" is off to a quick start at radio. It's already been added into rotation at four different formats (Top 40, Triple A, Alternative, Active) with early support from stations like WXRP/NYC, CIDR/Detroit, WKRK/Cleveland, DIMX/Detroit, WEDG/Buffalo, WBRU/Providence, Alt Nation/SiriusXM and WLUM/Milwaukee among others.

Our Lady Peace - Burn Burn Official Track ListingCD:1. All You Did Was Save My Life2. Dreamland3. Monkey Brains4. The End Is Where We Begin5. Escape Artist6. Refuge7. Never Get Over You8. White Flags9. Signs of Life10. Paper Moon11. Time Bomb (*Deluxe Only)12. The Right Stuff (*Deluxe Only)

DVD (*Deluxe Only):All You Did Was Save My Life (*Live In Studio)Dreamland (*Live In Studio)Monkey Brains (*Live In Studio)Never Get Over You (*Live In Studio)Refuge (*Live In Studio)The Right Stuff (*Live In Studio)All You Did Was Save My Life (Music Video)The Right Stuff (Music Video)

The A.K.A.s (Are Everywhere!) have had one of the busiest years in music history and are about to add signing to Paper + Plastick Records to their laundry list of achievements for 2009!

"Aside from the friend factor, the aesthetic and philosophy of the label is close to our hearts,” says Mike Ski (vocals), "bringing back the art aspect and keeping vinyl alive! The visual aspect of our band has always been riding high alongside of our music, so again, it's an easy marriage!"

The A.K.A.s' new record Animal Summer will be their first release on Paper + Plastick, and will also mark the first CD release for the label. The band is selling the new album while out on the road on the entire Vans Warped Tour, while fans who can’t make it out to the show can purchase the album exclusively at PaperandPlastick.com’s webstore: http://www.audiblediversiongroup.com/PaperandPlastick.

The band have recently posted a brand new song up on their MySpace page titled “All Sinners Are Welcome in the House of The A.K.A.s,” which can be heard here: www.myspace.com/theakasWhile many bands currently boast their allegiance to the issues and topics that plague the world today, The A.K.A.s (Are Everywhere!) don't just talk the talk... they scream it from the stage. Consistently outspoken and continually campaigning to raise awareness towards positive changes in both the political and environmental arenas, these Philly rockers have always been vocal about positive change.

"The A.K.A.s are the most forward thinking band I know," exclaims Vinnie Fiorello (Less Than Jake drummer, Paper + Plastick Records founder), "splitting time between spear heading The Eco Initiative on the Vans Warped Tour (see dates below) and making waves in the worlds of tattooing and graphic art, they are the perfect fit for the model over at Paper + Plastick, graphic heavy and willing to go out of he traditional label/band scenario."

Paper + Plastick is an independent label that takes a new and alternative approach to music retail by selling the highest digital quality music files available, along with deluxe digital packaging. The label also only releases physical music on exclusive, multi-colored and oddly shaped vinyl, making all Paper + Plastick releases a must have for recording buffs, vinyl collectors and music fans alike.

Reel Big Fish, voted Southern California’s best-looking and most radical band of cool dudes in a recent nationwide poll (OK we made that up…) will be releasing a new full length DVD this summer, titled, appropriately enough, Reel Big Fish Live! In Concert!

Reel Big Fish Live! In Concert! will be released July 21 on Rock Ridge Music for a very fan-friendly price.

The live concert DVD was filmed before a sold-out, hometown crowd at the Grove of Anaheim this past January and features 20 classic Reel Big Fish songs, as well as all of the hilarious in-between-song-banter-and-shenanigans that fans have come to expect.

Reel Big Fish has also lined up another killer summer tour for ‘09. The veteran ska-rock outfit will be hitting cities across America with 2-Tone legendsThe English Beat and Orlando, FL-based reggae/ska punks The Supervillains.

Reel Big Fish front man Aaron Barrett says the band is amped to be touring with one of its musical idols. Barrett explains, “We are so excited to be playing with one of our favorite bands of all time and one of the biggest influences on our music!! We LOVE the English Beat. This tour is a dream come true for us!”

The English Beat front man Dave Wakeling responds, “I was thrilled many years ago to be invited to play at Reel Big Fish's first album release party, and we are thrilled again to be touring with them now that they are bona fide Skadfathers!”

Formed in the suburban garages of Orange County, CA in the early 90’s, Reel Big Fish has gone on to release 6 full-length studio releases, headline countless tours in North America (as well as Europe, Asia and Latin America) and amass combined sales of over a million albums. In other words: these guys are sort of a big deal.

Reel Big Fish’s latest album, a compilation of cover songs entitled, Fame, Fortune, and Fornication is out now on Rock Ridge Music.

Live Nation announced today that its “No Service Fee Wednesday” program for July 1 will continue to give music fans deep discounts on 4-Pack ticket packages and will expand the offer to include 6-Pack tickets as well. These programs already save fans money with lower prices for purchasing a 4 or 6 ticket bundle. With the service fee eliminated on 4-Packs this Wednesday, music fans will enjoy a 40% average discount when compared to the regular price of individual tickets. Fans who buy 6-Packs will save even more – an average 54% over the purchase of individual tickets.

The new offer, which is valid for all 4-Packs and 6-Packs at Live Nation ticketed amphitheaters, runs for 24 hours beginning on Wednesday, July 1 at 12:01 a.m. local time, only at LiveNation.com. Parking, municipal taxes and certain venue fees may still apply.

The service fee free 4-Packs and 6-Packs are available only at Live Nation ticketed amphitheaters in the U.S. and Canada for concerts including but not limited to:

ABOUT LIVE NATION:Live Nation's mission is to maximize the live concert experience. Our core business is producing, marketing and selling live concerts for artists via our global concert pipe. Live Nation is the largest producer of live concerts in the world, annually producing over 22,000 concerts for 1,600 artists in 33 countries. During 2008, the company sold over 50 million concert tickets and drove over 70 million unique visitors to LiveNation.com. Live Nation is transforming the concert business by expanding its concert platform into ticketing and building the industry's first artist-to-fan vertically integrated concert platform. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol LYV. For additional information about the company, please visit www.livenation.com/investors.

Florida rockers SINCE OCTOBER have announced several additional dates to their summer tour, including a West Coast run with Trapt PLUS three huge festivals where they’ll be playing alongside such huge bands as Judas Priest, 3 Doors Down, Shinedown and more!

SINCE OCTOBER recently wrapped up a string of dates with RED, which included some of their first East Coast shows ever!

Singer Ben Graham checked in from the road with an update: “We’ve been on this tour for about 8 weeks now, so the show is nice and tight, and we’re really excited about that. We’re also psyched that on these upcoming Trapt dates, we’ll be playing markets we’ve never played: the House of Blues in Las Vegas and the Troubadour in Los Angeles will be awesome! And to be able to play with such legendary bands as Judas Priest and Whitesnake is absolutely amazing to us. The big festival shows will be great because there will be over 20,000 people there, and we’re definitely ready to take advantage of that opportunity.

“Our single is doing great right now, and we’re stoked on that too. ‘Guilty’ is up to #21 this week, which is the highest we’ve ever been. We’re one stop from the Top 20, and we’re really pushing for it. Because of the song’s success, we had a lot of people come out to see us in the Northeast, which is great because we’ve never played up there before. It’s been a really great time for us, and we can’t complain.”

On their riveting and keenly-anticipated fourth album, Leaving Wonderland... in a fit of rage, Marcy Playground return to action in triumphant fashion. Armed with songs born of an intense and turbulent period in his life, MP’s main man, singer/guitarist John Wozniak, has fashioned a record that digs deep, taking the listener on an exhilarating and satisfying emotional and musical rollercoaster ride. Its creator is justifiably proud of his accomplishment, calling it “by far the best thing I’ve ever done. This is the most personal record I’ve ever made, and I think it’s the thing that will connect most with other people.”

The sense of a spiritual quest, a personal emotional journey, is evocatively explored on Leaving Wonderland. The haunting and sparse “Irene” and “Memphis” possess an intimate and rootsy feel light years away from the aggressive sound of tunes like “Gin And Money,” “I Burned The Bed,” and “Emperor,” numbers Wozniak laughingly calls “our big rock songs.” His open-hearted and unaffected vocal style shines on the gently affecting ballads “Good Times,” “Thank You” (“you are the reason I’m the man you see today”), and “Blackbird,” a tender homage to his wife, while the catchy and light-hearted feel of “Star Baby” screams out for radio play.

The fact that Marcy Playground have always operated outside the musical fashion of the day has helped give their songs a timeless feel. Their material has been featured on such soundtracks as Cruel Intentions, Simply Irresistible, Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back (the 2004 MP single “Deadly Handsome Man”) and, most recently, Zack And Miri Make A Porno. For the latter film, the now classic “Sex And Candy” proved a perfect choice. Most recently (this past weekend), “Sex And Candy” was heard on the popular HBO series, True Blood.

The band is heading out on the road this summer and Wozniak is also compiling a collection of Marcy Playground B-sides and rarities (including live versions of fan favorites) for release later this year.

Monday, June 29, 2009

On July 1, Pasadena Museum of History will inaugurate “Community Wednesdays,” offering free admission each Wednesday through January 6, 2010 to the Family Stories exhibition for persons who live, work, or go to school in our community. Visitors should mention this offer and verify their “local” status by showing some form of I.D. in the Museum Store.

It is the Museum’s hope that this exhibition will inspire everyone to reflect on how their own family’s lives and experiences are contributing to the ongoing creation of history and community. Family Stories is on view Wednesdays through Sundays from 12:00-5:00 pm in the History Center Galleries, located on the PMH grounds at 470 W. Walnut St. (corner Orange Grove Blvd. and Walnut St.). Free parking is available in the Museum lot.

To be eligible for this free offer, visitors must live, work, or go to school in one of the following cities:

You've heard of New Years Eve... Xmas Eve... this is the biggest Eve of them all... 4th of July Eve, Friday night, July 3rd. Sierra Madre's biggest party, includes music, beer garden and a big ole honkin dance floor. Get there early to stake out your spot.

Music features the psychedelic sounds of Greg Pineda's incredible Aluminum Marshmallow & the Age of Aquarius Horns. Also on the bill, our friends, The Sheds.

I met the Sheds five years ago. I can still hear the excitement in his voice when my friend, Greg Pineda called to say, "You gotta hear these guys". He was right! The Sheds complete with horn section go on at 6PM and will be playing tunes off their new CD.

The 'mallow with the Age of Aquarius Horns will be rockin from 6:30 till curfew (10PM).

If you miss this one, I don't even want to hear about it!

TB

PS Attached, just for yuks is a picture of yours truly marching in the 4th of July parade in front of the good ole Headliner (aka Only Place In Town) circa 1969.

Some of the biggest names from the worlds of Hollywood and sports will participate in a charity softball game at the University of Southern California (USC) to help the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of The ALS Association continue to provide services and programs to people fighting ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in seven counties in Southern and Central California.

The Strike Out Lou Gehrig’s Disease All Star Softball Game between Team Hollywood against The USC Legends is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 23 at Dedeaux Field on the USC campus.

The celebrity game is part of opening day ceremonies for the fifth annual CytRx Strike Out Lou Gehrig’s Disease All Star Tournament, July 23-26.

“This tournament continues to be a highly successful vehicle not only as a fund raiser but as a platform to communicate to an audience that we typically would not reach,” said Fred Fisher, president of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of The ALS Association. “We find that our message about Lou Gehrig’s Disease resonates with both the young players and their parents.”

The softball game at USC will be preceded by a free youth baseball clinic led by former professional baseball players and the USC coaching staff; a homerun derby featuring youth players who will be competing in the tournament; a tribute to Lou Gehrig; and the introduction of the teams that will be participating. There will be a VIP Reception for invited guests taking place immediately after the game at the USC Baseball Hall of Fame.

The game is being produced in conjunction with the USC Baseball Alumni Association and is made possible through the generous donations form Ernst & Young and The Renaissance Hotel Agoura Hills. On July 24 through July 26, approximately 40 Little League, Cal Ripkin, Pony League and Club teams consisting of 8 to 14 year olds will participate in the tournament, to be held at baseball fields throughout Thousands Oaks. Former Los Angeles Dodger Steve Garvey will be coaching one of the teams, which will be traveling from as far away as Los Angeles, Antelope Valley, Visalia and Bakersfield.

The tournament is now in its fifth year and has raised $400,000 in the fight against ALS.

Approximately 30,000 people in the United States annually live with ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. People fighting this progressive, neurodegenerative disease, on average, survive two to five years from the time of diagnosis.

The ALS Association is the only non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.

The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of The ALS Association provides services and programs to people living with ALS in Los Angeles, eastern Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and Inyo counties.

Tickets for the celebrity softball game are $10 for adults $8 for children 12 and under and can be purchased by contacting the chapter at (818) 865-8067. Tickets also can be purchased at the Dedeaux Field Box Office on the day of the event. Enter the USC campus at Gate 6.

For more information about the tournament, contact Patrick McMinn at (805) 300-8955 and/or visit www.alsbaseball.com.

Los Angeles-based band Divisible, consisting of singer Shola and drummer Albert Sadia, is pleased to present its debut album Less Than Lion, a collection of songs (including a reinterpretation of Radiohead’s “Exit Music [For A Film]),” that explores Shola’s journey from the halls of Harvard to a West African reconciliation with her father, who lives in Ghana via a propulsive mixture of rock, electronica, and world music sounds.

After meeting in downtown Los Angeles, Shola and Sadia set out to make songs that were moody, atmospheric, and accessible. Divisible recorded its first demo in the confines of Shola and Sadia’s rehearsal room. Divisible’s debut release, The Alchemy EP, quickly garnered local attention from Filter Magazine, ABC Television, and L.A.’s Indie 103.

Divisible upcoming full-length was produced by Tommy Walter (Eels) and mixed by Ryan Freeland (Aimee Mann, Loudon Wainwright III). Less Than Lion, is a blend of Peter Gabriel, PJ Harvey, and TV On The Radio-style sounds. It’s worldly, primal music that speaks to the band’s African ancestry.

artist: Divisibletitle: Less Than Lionlabel: Self-Releasedrelease: August 18, 2009

Have you arrived at the conclusion that the world needs a change and you want to be there when it happens? Please accept this invitation to help change the world. The only thing you need to bring is your creativity.

America finally has the potential to come together. We can now overcome the barriers that have always separated us because foreclosures, lost jobs, and the lack of health care have eliminated the distance between us.

Musicians, filmmakers, painters, writers, graffiti artists, photographers, poets, DJs (and so many more) collectively monitor the pulse of the people. It is the artists who can take advantage of the positive possibilities that have emerged alongside the upsurge of poverty. Through our artistry—songs or spray can pieces, poems or plays, on screens or canvases--we express the hope, faith, and truth that resides in our souls.

To change the world, creativity needs connection to the actual struggles for housing, healthcare, equality, and a better life. The search for that connection led us to the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC). We have aligned with PPEHRC because it is a movement to end poverty led by the poor themselves, because PPEHRC wants to end poverty not just reduce it, and because PPEHRC places a heavy emphasis on culture. PPEHRC is also truly nationwide, with affiliates from Maine to Oakland, from the Mississippi Gulf Coast to Minnesota. Artists are welcomed into their ranks not just for their skills and visions but because, after all, most artists are poor people too

Aligning with the struggle to end poverty feeds our souls. It is also a primary source of new audiences that await all that artists have to offer the world. If you would like more information on how this works, contact Rock A Mole Productions at rockrap@aol.com .

Saturday night arrives early this week with Tuesday’s release of American Saturday Night, the new album from superstar and three-time GRAMMY winner Brad Paisley. The album has already launched Paisley’s recent three-week #1 smash, “Then,” and on Monday, stations across the country will receive the album’s second single, “Welcome to the Future.” Officially impacting country radio on July 13, “Welcome to the Future” was written by Brad and Chris DuBois, and it’s a song that Paisley hails as “my favorite thing I’ve ever written.”

Coinciding with the release of American Saturday Night is a re-launch of Paisley’s website, www.bradpaisley.com, completely rebuilt, with enhanced navigation and features designed to deliver a more exciting experience and increased interactivity with fans.

American Saturday Night marks the eighth album from the reigning three-time ACM and two-time CMA Male Vocalist winner. In all, Paisley’s albums have launched 14 #1 singles – and the last 10 in a row – with album sales in excess of 10 million units, including his 2x-Platinum 2005 ACM and CMA Album of the Year, Time Well Wasted.

Stillborn Records has signed South Florida's up and coming Abolish to their roster. The metallic-hardcore band has entered Connecticut's Dexter's Lab Studios with engineer Nick Bellmore (Hatebreed, The World We Knew, Phantoms, Death Threat) to record their debut full length, "Beyond Redemption," which is slated for a fall release.

The band commented: "We are very excited to be working with Stillborn, a label that is so well respected and has released some of the staple records in the hardcore and metal genres. With our new record, we wrote songs with the heavy groove we wanted to hear. We hope everyone enjoys the record as much as much as we do. See you on tour."

Stillborn owner and Hatebreed/Kingdom of Sorrow frontman, Jamey Jasta added, "I'm excited to be working with Abolish. Their sound is as hard as their work ethic!"

Southern soulful rockers NEEDTOBREATHE will be performing at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine on July 25th to promote their upcoming album The Outsiders. They will be embarking on a tour with David Cook starting July and in August they will be going out on their own headlining tour with Griffin House in August.

The South Carolina-based rock outfit consists of brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart and childhood friends Seth Bolt and Joe Stillwell. Catch them on a headlining tour this summer in support of new album The Outsiders (release date: August 25th)! Be captivated by their ability to mend warm, organic textures to their powerful brand of skyscraping, heartfelt rock.

NEEDTOBREATHE blazes a new musical trail, revealing not just the depth of its spirit, but the far reaches of its soul. The band’s music has been featured as the theme to Oprah Winfrey's primetime series "The Big Give," and countless other TV and film placements, including their top 10 hit "More Time" which was the most downloaded track on last year's P.S, I Love You soundtrack.

NEEDTOBREATHE has also climbed up the Adult Rock charts with the hit single "More Time" from their last album The Heat.

Rock ‘n Roll Wine will host their first monthly residency in Los Angeles at the House of Blues member’s only VIP club Foundation Room starting Friday, July 10, 2009. The Vegas-famed wine party will feature an array of mouth-watering wines from around the world, including Rock 'n Roll Wine's own award-winning red and wine blends, combined with an incredible evening of live music. Entertainment for the July 10th event will be provided by the talented Las Vegas singer/songwriter Jeremy Cornwell.

Rock 'n Roll Wine invites LA to “Rock Out With Your Cork Out! Doors open at 7:00 p.m. The festivities will conclude at 10:30 p.m. though patrons will be able to remain in Foundation Room for the remainder of the night. Tickets are priced at $35 in advance and $40 at the door includes all live entertainment, wine tasting, and light hors d'oeuvres. To purchase your tickets in advance, visit www.rocknrollwine.com or call 702-240-3066. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend.

Co-founder Sonny Barton agreed, “We pride ourselves on the wine experience and combining our concept with the eclectic setting of the Foundation Room will make for a truly memorable evening.”

Acoustic mastermind, Jeremy Cornwell will be the featured artist of the night mixing original material with unique covers of crowd favorites to create the perfect atmosphere for the evening. Jeremy Corwell is a self-taught musician born and raised in Youngstown, OH, who began playing at the age of 18. After attending college on a full vocal scholarship, Cornwell decided to move to Las Vegas. After only six weeks in town, he landed his first gig at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville and quickly became a locals favorite.

Conwell’s live act is a high-energy brand of original material brilliantly combines with unique cover songs. He is currently working on finishing his first full-length album. For more information, go to www.jeremycornwell.com.

More information on Rock ‘n Roll Wine’s monthly Foundation Room residency can be found at www.rocknrollwine.com or by calling the Rock ‘n Roll Wine offices at 702-240-3066.

If you close your eyes and hear music during two July evenings at the Los Angeles Zoo, you might think you're in Africa or possibly Ireland, or even the Middle East. And - how can this be -- are the Beatles and the Eagles performing right around the bend? Well, your imagination might inspire all these thoughts at the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's (GLAZA) rare opportunity to visit after hours on two evenings of "Music in the Zoo" under the stars, including WORLD MUSIC NIGHT on Tuesday, July 14, and CLASSIC ROCK NIGHT on Tuesday, July 24, 2009.

World Music Night includes aninternational array of musicians, and Classic Rock Night features cover bands of music by the Beatles, Eagles, Grateful Dead, Doors and Dylan (among others) who perform throughout the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens while guests view more than a few animals staying up past their bedtimes.

Picnics are permitted, and an eclectic array of food and beverages offerings are available.

Both evenings also offer ten interactive animal education and conservation stations located throughout the Zoo, each staffed by Zoo Docents and mom-and-daughter volunteers from the Glendale Chapter of the National Charity League, Inc. The National Charity League, Inc., Glendale Chapter, is a mother-daughter philanthropic organization. Its incoming 10th Grade class is implementing a chapterwide service project, "Where the Wild ThingZ Are," designed to benefit the Los Angeles Zoo. It includes interacting with the public at "Music in the Zoo's" education stations to teach guests about animal behavior, habitats, conservation, and environmental issues.

World Music Night focuses on international animals, and Classic Rock Night features animals native to California.

"Music in the Zoo" is one of many programs presented by the private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, founded in 1963. The year 2009 marks more than 45 years of GLAZA's success in supporting the Los Angeles Zoo's work as an educational resource for the citizens of Los Angeles, and as an international center for the conservation of endangered wildlife. GLAZA provides support for Los Angeles Zoo exhibits, conservation, capital projects, education programs, community outreach, research, and more through fund-raising and an endowment, membership, special events and more.

GLAZA currently has 65,000 member households, the second largest non-profit organization membership in Los Angeles. Many of its nearly 300,000 individual members have sustained their GLAZA support for more than 20 years.

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is an international leader in the conservation of endangered species and one of the city's major cultural and entertainment resources..

Admission to "Music in the Zoo" for GLAZA members is $12:50 for adults and $7.50 for children ages 6 to 15. Admission for non-members is $16.50 for adults and $10.50 for children ages 6 to 15. Children 5 and under are free.

A discounted ticket price for KCET members is available at www.LAZoo.org.

The Los Angeles Zoo is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Tickets for "Music in the Zoo"may be purchased at the Zoo or in advance by phone at (323) 644-6042 or online at www.LAZoo.org.

The NAACP issued the following statement in response to the death of Michael Jackson.

“Michael Jackson’s dedication to humanitarian issues, including helping to raise untold millions of dollars to alleviate poverty and hunger, showed us that he understood how to use his fame to advocate for equality and freedom worldwide. Michael's compassion and vision for a better world, which he so clearly expressed in his music, will be part of his ongoing legacy,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous.

In the African American tradition of the great song and dance men Michael's incomparable, talent and creativity influenced music, dance and culture for decades. His love of soul, rhythm and blues, and rock & roll, all performed with his innovative unique style captured the hearts and imagination of generations of fans.

“NAACP Image Award winning, international superstar, Michael Jackson was a musical artist rooted in the proud tradition of black American music. His career — from the working-class neighborhoods of Gary, Indiana, to the heights of the entertainment industry — is a classic example of the American Dream. Michael Jackson, and the talented Jackson family, represented pride and promise to generations of Americans and people around the globe,” concluded Jealous.

The world has lost a great artist, but his legacy of exuberant optimism and undeniable talent will live on.

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) mourns the loss of its BMI Icon and longtime songwriter and publisher Michael Jackson. BMI has set up a section on its homepage – www.bmi.com – for some of its most performed songwriters to comment on Michael and his legacy. Included in the site are comments from BMI Icon and legendary songwriter Lamont Dozier (Holland-Dozier-Holland, Motown) and R. Kelly. Reflections from other leading songwriters will be added throughout the day.

BMI Statement on Michael Jackson:

“BMI mourns the passing of Michael Jackson. A BMI Icon, he was one of the greatest entertainers of our era. His songwriting skills, composing both music and lyrics, were as influential as his singing, dancing, personal style and humanitarianism. In an era in which most songs are composed by teams, Michael was the sole composer of dozens of songs that endeared him to audiences around the world. A BMI songwriter since 1976, his catalog contains more than 150 songs, more than 20 reaching multi-million performance status on American radio and television. Our hearts are with his family, especially his children, at this sad time. He will be missed by millions, but we can be comforted that he will live on, young and vibrant, in his music and videos.”

- Del Bryant, President & CEO, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).

Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 375,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. BMI reported $901 million for its 2008 fiscal year in performing right collections. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world for 70 years. The U.S. corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.

MAR KZ (pronounced mar-kay-zee) based in Woodbridge Ontario fuses Rock, Pop and Classic Rock with a modern sound with shades of influence from Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Eric Clapton. Bon Jovi's long-time producer/engineer/friend Obie O'Brien produced and engineered MAR KZ‘s debut, self-titled album in Nashville, Tennessee in the Fall of 2008.

Larry Gold known for his production work for Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Jay-Z did string arrangements on the album. Both Bobby Bandiera and Hugh McDonald of the Bon Jovi band guested on guitar and bass guitar. Jerry Cohen played Hammond B (keys).

Following the Canadian release of their new CD, MAR KZ plans to do an official release in Nashville – the place in which their album was born.

MAR KZ (formerly known as The Room) won Q107’s Have a Nice Gig competition in 2006, earning them the opening slot for Bon Jovi at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto to a crowd of twenty thousand. That same week they were also honoured at Toronto City Hall for their accomplishment.

“Opening up for Bon Jovi at the ACC gave us the opportunity to become acquainted with Jon, where he was kind enough to share a lot of great advice about the music industry. However at that time we never imagined that our debut CD would be produced by Bon Jovi's engineer/friend/producer Obie O'Brien,” says lead singer Dom Mark KZ, who also plays piano and guitar.

It didn’t take long for promoters to notice them, and soon MAR KZ would find themselves opening a Def Leppard show at Rogers Sarnia Bay Fest 2007. Next, they were booked to open for the Eastern leg of the Scorpions’ 2007 Canadian tour with stops in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Chiqoutimi, and Shawinigan.

“City Councillor Giorgio Mammolti plays rock promoter and hypes local band in council” National Post “Out Homegrown stars on the Rise” City Life “Bon Jovi Makes Space for The Room” Vaughan Citizen

The band's music will take you on a journey through life, love, faith, dreams, and Rock ‘n Roll.

The first single off the self-titled independently released album “It’s My Right” celebrates “life and having the courage to believe in yourself and not holding back,” says Lu Cachie who plays lead guitar.

Jode Delme holds it all together with thunderous zeal on the drums. Jode credits their success to “powerful stage presence and chemistry between the three long-time friends.” The band has been together for 7 years while Dom and Lu played together for 10 years previously and had gone to high school together.

Massachusetts' THE ACACIA STRAIN are proud to announce their Summer Slob Tour presented by All In Merchandise and Revolver Magazine. The self-proclaimed “greasiest tour of the year” kicks off on July 17 in Doylestown, PA and features Evergreen Terrace as direct support, along with Cruel Hand and Unholy.

THE ACACIA STRAIN are touring to support 2008’s Continent, which debuted at #107 on the Billboard 200. The band took home this year’s MySpace Readers’ Choice Award at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards. The album was produced by Zeuss (Hatebreed, Shadows Fall).

Welcome to my world!

About Me

I live for adventure! I've been in rock bands, movies, plays and on TV. I adore animals, motorcycles get my heart racing and I also have a passion for sushi and ice cream (not at the same time). I was the Queen of the 31st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. I am also a professional belly dancer (swords are my speciality), a Polynesian/Tahitian dance student and a full-time journalist. Here, I'll share some of my life- who I meet and where I go in the music scene, as well as music news, and any other intriguing people, places and things I come across. **PLEASE NOTE: Here I will also post excerpts from press releases I receive with information on upcoming entertainment events and news.** Welcome and keep on rockin'!
~ Follow me on Twitter @Mickieszoo ~